Ish Sodhi's six-fer dooms Sydney Thunder

Needing to chase their highest score this season to stay alive in the competition, Sydney Thunder batsmen were left clueless as Ish Sodhi weaved circles around them to claim his best figures in any Twenty20 game (6 for 11) at the Sydney Showground Stadium on Wednesday (January 18).

The hosts had a fairly decent start in their chase with Shane Watson showing the kind of form which had played a part in Thunder's revival after losing their first four games. But on 39 (off 26 balls), he miscued a filthy long-hop from Jake Lehmann straight to long-on. That ushered in chaos. From there, the innings completely spiraled out of control and Sodhi wouldn't stop making inroads. The Thunder collapsed from 77 for 2 in 10 overs to 101 all out. Watson ended up being the top-scorer and one of the only two batsmen to get into double figures, opener Kurtis Patterson being the other.

It was never going to be an easy task in the first place, chasing Adelaide Strikers' 179, considering they hadn't crossed 170 even once up until this point. It could have been a lot different though. Having opted to bowl after winning the toss, Thunder didn't allow the game to run away in the first few overs and even struck early to get rid of Tim Ludeman cheaply. But what happened in the next over, the fifth one, changed the course of the match completely.

Batting on eight and itching to get going, Ben Dunk smashed one from Chris Green in the air towards mid-off. Carlos Brathwaite moved to his right and spilled the chance. It was coming hard and flat towards him but it definitely was an opportunity. That completely turned the tide for Dunk who scored a six and two boundaries in the next four balls which set him on course for a brisk 65 off 40 balls.

Brad Hodge provided some good support at the other end and played his part in the 92-run second wicket partnership in what might turn out to be his final BBL game, considering he might decide to retire and not return for the next season.

To make matters worse, Kieron Pollard - whose scores before today read 1, 4, 29, 11, 15, 16, 22 - chose his final game this season to make an impact. The Trinidadian hammered 47 in just 22 balls to provide exactly the kind of finish the Adelaide Strikers were looking for.

Adelaide Strikers had nothing to gain from this game except some pride. They've now dragged the Thunder along with them out of the competition. On the back of this result, the Strikers also avoid the stigma of staying rock-bottom, for now at least.